High tension disconnecting switch



Dec. 22, 1936. R w s 2,065,165

HIGH TENSION DISCONNECTING SWITCH Filed Oct. 28, 1935 I 3 Sheets-Sheet l INVENYLOR n if WWW I 2 I I i k BY ORNEY Dec. 22, 1936. R. WILKINS HIGH TENSION DISCONNECTING SWITCH Filed Oct. 28, 1935 5 Sheets-Sheet 2 24 INVEN TOR.

ATTORNEY.

Dec. 22, 1936. R. WILKINS 2,065,165

HIGH TENSION DISCONNECTING SWITCH Filed 001;. 28, 1935 5 Sheets-Sheet 5 IN V EN TOR.

49 Qt Mam TORNEY Patented Dec. 22, 1936 UNITED STATES l 2,065,165 HIGH TENSION DISCONNEC'I'ING SWITCH r Roy Wilkins, San Francisco, Calif assignor to F. Electric Company, San Francisco,

Application October as, 1935, sci-m No. 40,973

11 Claims. (01. 200-48) The present invention relates to high tension disconnecting switches, and more particularly to an operating mechanism and switch structure which will give a maximum of contact separation is with a minimum of operator movement in a positive and effective manner.

' An object of the invention is to provide an emcient switch and operating means which is adapted to use in connection with either single 10 or multiphase circuits, where it is necessary to sectionalize a power transmission line or to open or close a branch circuit at the point of intersection with the main line, or for the protection of any other electrical equipment that may be opl erated from electrical high voltage transmission lines.

Another object of the invention is to provide a relatively inexpensive and effective switch which is particularly adapted to high tension transmis- 20 sion circuits and power systems for simultaneously opening and closing a plurality of lines by means'of a single operator.

Another and specific object of the present invention is to provide an operating means for a 25 rotatable switch blade which is capable of imparting a 180 movement to a switch blade from a straight line operating member.

Another object of the invention is to provide an operating means for a. double bladed disconnect- 30 ing switch which will impart a 180 movement to each of the switch blades and thereby produce among other advantages a maximum of separation between the switch contacts.

Another object of the invention is to provide a 35 switch blade operating means which is capable of imparting a 180 rotation to the switch blade without resort to gears or a rack and gear arrangement.

Another object of the invention is to provide a 40 straight line operating mechanism for a plurality of disconnecting switches such as are used on multiphase power systems in which movement is imparted to the switch blades in a positive manner by a double link arrangement extending from 5 each switch blade to a common operating member movable in a straight line transverse to the switch blades when in their normal closed positions. 1

Switches of the character contemplated by this invention, particularly those used on high tension transmission lines, are of necessity mounted upon the end of a comparatively long insulator stand, and while it is possible to steady these insulator stands by diagonally disposed strings of 55 insulators, as will be hereinafter described, it is also desirable that the contacts at the ends of the switch blades be so constructed that a full engagement may be obtained therebetween without producing any unnecessary lateral strains upon the switch blade supporting insulator stand. 5' Therefore it is a further object of the present invention to provide a new and novel type of interlocking contacts, which will permit an engagement and full closing of the switch without producing any lateral strain upon the blade supporting insulators, and which will at the same time facilitate a full closing of the contacts with a high pressure engagement therebetween.

Another object of the invention is to provide a switch of the above mentioned type with contact members having contact making surfaces and pressure producing means so mounted in the plane of movement of the cooperating contact member as to provide a sliding action with an increasing contact pressure as the contact members are moved into engagement with each other.

With the above, and other objects which will appear as the description proceeds, the invention resides in the construction, combination and arrangement of parts, substantially as will be hereinafter described and more particularly defined by the appended claims.

For a better understanding of the invention reference should be had to the following description taken in connection with the accompanying 0 drawings, wherein there is shown by way of illustration and not'of limitation, a preferred embodiment thereof.

In the drawings;

Figure 1 is a view in elevation showing three switches constructed in accordance with a preferred embodiment of the present invention mounted upon a vertical surface such as the side wall of'an electric power station,

Figure 2 is a. side elevation of one of the switch 40 units illustrated in Figure 1 of the drawings,

Figure 3 is an end elevation looking to the right at the switch unit illustrated in Figure 2 of the drawings,

Figures 4, 5 and 6 are fragmentary, diagrammatic views showing the positions of parts of the operating mechanism with the switch contacts substantially in their closed, partly opened and fullyopened positions.

Figures '7 and 8 are perspective views of preferred forms of interlocking contact making members provided at the ends of the switch blades,

Figure 9 is a fragmentary view showing the contact making members of the switch blades in a partially closed position, and

Figure 10 is a fragmentary sectional view showing the switch blade contact making members in their final circuit closing positions.

For the purpose of describing the inventio there is illustrated in Figure 1 of the drawings, a switching arrangement for a three-phase power transmission line which comprises three identical switch units, a description of any one of which will suiiice for a description of the other two. These three switch units, designated by the letters A, B and C, are each shown as mounted upon a suitable structural iron frame II that can in turn be mounted upon any suitable supp rt. For example, the frames l may be attached to the side wall of a building, as illustrated, or they may be mounted in a horizontal position upon the roof of a building or upon the side or top of a structural steel tower, such as is commonly used with high tension transmission lines. Each frame It carries insulator stands H and i2, upon which switch blades l3 and H are respectively mounted. The insulator stands II and II are rotatably secured upon the frames l0, so that they may be turned through an arc of substantially 180. These rotatable insulator stands II and 12 may be of any preferred construction. That is, they may comprise a single stand of insulators or they may form one leg of a tripod arrangement, as will hereinafter appear. The rotatable blades 3 and H are mounted at a right angle to the axis of rotation of their respective supporting insulator stands, so that as the insulator stands I l and I2 are rotated, the switch blades l3 and ll-will be moved into and out of circuit making engagement when the insulator stands are turned in one direction or the other. To provide for a rotation of the insulator stands, and a consequent opening and closing of the switch blades I 3 and Il, the insulator stands II and I2 are respectively provided with cross arms I! and [6, which connect with the operating means to be now described. In order to provide for a simultaneous rotation of all of the switch blade supporting insulator stands II and ll of the three units A, B and C by a single operating means, the operating forces are transmitted through a movable member or rod H, which extends transversely across the switch units A, B and C in a path substantially halfway between the respective rotatable insulator stands II and I! of the several units. The movable member ll, which may be of one continuous piece or a series of members connected together as a unit, is so mounted that it may be freely moved back and forth transversely of the units A, B and C, to open and/or close the switch blades l3 and I4. The movable member I! is shown as actuated by a pitman l8, which connects one of its ends to a double bell-crank I! that is adapted to be oscillated by a motor and/or other means 20, in a manner well known in the art. With this arrangement, it will be seen that as the motor operates either directly or through gears, it will cause the long end of the bell-crank I 9 to oscillate between its limits of travel and impart a corresponding lateral movement to the member H. In order to convert this movement of the member I! into rotation of the insulator stands II and i2 and thus effect an opening or a closing of the switch, as the case may be, the ends of the cross arms l and it are respectively connected to the member [1 by means of links 2|, 22

and 2I,2l,whichoperate,aswillbehereinafter morefullypointed out.

Referenceisnowmadetol'lgures2and8for a more detailed description of-the structural detailsofthes'witchunitsLBandC. Ashere shown, the switch blade supporting insulator stand II is rotatably supported at itsends by means of suitablebearings "and". Thebearingilissecuredupontheframellandthebearingflisdispoeedaboutthefreeendofthe insulator stand II, where it is held in position by means of two diagonally extending insulator stands 21 that are secured at their lower ends to a raised support 2| carried by the frame I I. The rotatable insulator stand I2 is likewise supported at its lower end in a bearing 25 and at its upper end it has a bearing 20. The bearing 20 is substantially similar to the bearing 20, and it, like the latter, is steadied by means of two diagonally extending insulator stands 30, which are secured at their lower ends at points 3| upon the frame II. The disposition of the diagonally disposed insulator stands 21 and II, as here shown, is particularly suited to a switch unit which is to be mounted upon the side wall of a building or tower. It wfll be understood-that these diagonally disposed insulator stands 21 and ll may be located in positions which are the reverse of those illustrated, and also with both diagonal stands inside of the insulator stands H and II, or outside thereof, if conditions require. An outside arrangement of the diagonally disposed insulator stands 21 and will be found particularly suitable where the strain of the line conductors is imposed upon the switch terminals. When the diagonally disposed insulator stands 21 and 30 are disposed outside of the rotatable insulator stands II and I2, there will be no need for the raised support 20 upon the frame II, as there will then be no possibility of the diagonally disposed insulator stands 21 interfering with the linkage mechanism employed to transmit movement from the member I! to the rotatable insulator stands II and I2. Since the tripods formed by the insulator stands ll, 21 and l2, 3. are of a considerable length, they each have a triangular bracing member 32, which connects the three insulator stands together at a point substantially midway between their ends. These braces 32 are rigidly connected to the two diagonally disposed insulator stands 21 and 30, and at their apex they carry a bearing plate a, in which a midway portion of the insulator stands II and I2 is adapted to rotate.

As will be clearly, seen from Figure 2 of the drawings, the cross arms I8 and I. are secured to their respective rotatable insulator stands H and I! at the supporting frame ends thereof, and as a result the movable member I! and the associated operating links II, 22, 23 and 24 will be located closely adjacent the frames II and at a point remote from the switch blades [3 and I4. As a means for supporting and guiding the movable member i1 and maintaining it in an operative position with respect to the several switch units A. B and C, the frames II are provided with laterally extending supporting members 34, which carry rollers 35 at each end. With this arrangement, the rollers 35 serve as guides between which the member I! moves. Where the spacing of the switch units A B and C will permit, it may be sufhcient to provide only one set of rollers ll between each switch unit. As a further modification in this respect, it may be stated that the rollers 35 may be dispensed with, provided some other suitable form of guiding and supporting means be provided for the movable member Il. Before taking up a detailed description of the switch blade operating means, it should be stated that the rotatable insulator stand bearings 24 and 23, respectively, support terminals 34 and 31, to which the transmission line conductors may be connected.

' These terminals 36 and 31 also have flexible connectors 38 and 33, which connect respectively with the switch blades 3 and I4.

For a more detailed description of the switch blade operating mechanism and the operation thereof, reference is now made to Figures 4, 5 and 6 of the drawings. In these figures of the drawings the switch blades l3 and H are shown respectively in their closed, partially opened and fully opened positions. The switch blade supporting insulator stands II and i2 have been omitted from these views, and consequently the portions of the switch blades l3 and I4, illustrated, are to be understood as disposed in a plane displaced from the plane of the cross arms II and it of the rotatable insulator stands II and i2 by a dimension corresponding to the length of their supporting insulator stands. The purpose of showing the ends of the switch blades l3 and I4 in these figures of the drawings is to illustrate the positions assumed by these parts when the connecting links 2|, 22 and 23, 24 of the operating mechanism are in the positions illustrated. An examination of these figures of the drawings will disclose that the links 2| and 22 are respectively connected at their inner ends at spaced points 43 and 4| upon the movable member I! and with their outer ends connected in crossed relation to opposite ends of the cross arm l5 of the rotatable insulator stand II, and that the links 23 and 24 are similarly connected with the movable member l1 and in crossed relation to the opposite ends of the cross arm l6 carried by the rotatable insulator stand I2. When the movable member i1 is in its uppermost position, as illustrated in Figure 4 of the drawings, the links 2|, 22 and 23, 24 will assume the positions there shown and hold the cross arms I5 and I6 so that contacts 42 and 43 carried respectively by the switch blades l3 and 4 will be held into circuit making engagement with each other. Now, as the movable member I! is moved downwardly, as indicated by the arrow, it will exert a force through the connecting link 2| that will cause the cross arm l5 to rotate in a clockwise direction, and a similar force through the connecting link 23 that will cause the cross arm i6 to rotate in a counterclockwise direction. At the same time the links 22 and 24 will operate upon their respective cross arms l5 and i8 and exert a pulling force which will assist in imparting the above rotations to the cross arms l5 and it. When the operating mechanism has assumed its midway position, as illustrated in Figure 5, the forces exerted by the connecting links 2|, 22 and 23, 24 will be substantially equalized and the links 2| and 23 will exert a pushing force, while the links 22 and 24 will exert a pulling force upon their respectively controlled cross arms I 5 and I6. At this point the I contacts 42 and 43 will have moved in the direction indicated by arrows superimposed thereupon, through an arc of substantially 90, or to their halfway opened positions. As the movable member l1 continues to move downwardly, the cross arms i5 and IE will finally come to rest in the positions illustrated in Figure 6 of the drawings, and at this point the switchrblades l3 and i4, with their respective contacts 42 and 43, will have rotated through an arc of substantially 180. The switch blades i3 and M will then extend in directions substantially opposite to each other, and the operating links 2|, 22 and 23, 24 will have assumed the positions here illustrated. To effect a closing of the switch blades l3 and I4, and establish a contact making engagement between the contacts 42 and 43, it will only be necessary to impart an opposite or upward movement to the movable member ll. This will reverse the nature of the forces applied by the several connecting links 2|, 22 and 23, 24, and will impart a reverse direction of rotation to the cross arms I5 and it, which will move the switch blades i3 and i4 through the positions previously described and into their contact closing positions, as illustrated in Figure 4 of the drawings.

Before taking up a detailed description of the switch blade contact members 42 and 43, it should here be pointed out that the switch blades l3 and I4 need not necessarily be of the same length, nor is it necessary that they be provided with contacts of the construction illustrated. It is to be also understood that the operating mechanism above described is not necessarily limited to a switch having two rotatable switch blades, as it is conceivable that either one of the switch blades I3 or |4 may be associated with a stationary contact. In an arrangement of this latter character the transversely movable operating member |I may be mounted upon either side of the rotatable insulator stand, and only one set of the connecting links 2| and 22 or 23 and 24 will be required. The present arrangement, however, will be found particularly adapted to a switch having two movable switch blades, as the simultaneous operation of two switch blades in the manner disclosed will tend to equalize the forces exerted upon the several operating links 2|, 22 and 23, 24 by the movable member Reference is now made to the remaining fig-' ures of the drawings for a detailed description of the contact making means and its mode of oper ation. .Because of the length and other inherent characteristics of the insulators upon which switches of the character contemplated by this invention are mounted, and also because of the character of the switch blades, which in many cases are of considerable length, it is important that the contact forming members 42 and 43 at the engaging ends of the blades i3 and H be of such a character that they will engage with a minimum of resistance and at the same time establish a high pressure contact engagement without producing any lateral strains upon the insulator stands that support the switch blades. This is accomplished, in accordance with the present invention, by forming the contact means upon one of the switch blades so that it will act as a gear tooth and mesh with the opposing contact, and providing upon the other switch blade a contact having two spaced surfaces, at least one of which is of a yielding pressure producing charac ter, between which the gear tooth portion of the first contact is adapted to slidably rotate into full contact making engagement. To this end the contact member 42, as shown in Figure 7 of the drawings, has a contact forming lip 44 upon the projecting end of which there is formed a cylindrical contact making surface 45 which the c0operating contact member is adapted to engage. Disposed in parallel relation with the lip 44 and in slightly overhanging relation with the cylindrical contact making surface 45, the contact member 42 has a relatively yielding member 46 which is adapted to engage an opposite side of the cooperating contact member and hold the latter into high pressure engagement with the cylindrical contact making surface 48 when the switch is fully closed. The member 48 is of stiff leaf-spring construction and is capable of exerting a comparatively high pressure upon the engaging contact member without at the same time interfering with a full and complete closing of the contacts. The cooperating contact memberv 43, as shown in Figure 8 of the drawings, comprises a blade supporting head 41 from which there extends one or more blade-like members 48 of good conducting material. In the drawing, two blade-like members 48 are shown extending outwardly from the member 41. The blade-like members 48 are of similar configuration and they are disposed in spaced parallel relation so that their opposite edges form the contact making surfaces thereof. This provides a small contact surface between the contact making members which, with the high pressure produced by the leaf-spring member 46, provides an electrical contact between the members 42 and 48, which is particularly well suited to the service for which the present invention is intended. The blade-like members 48 have-a special configuration that is determined by the lengths of the cooperating blades l3 and i4 with which they are associated, and in this respect they may be said to conform to what could be termed a gear tooth. These blade-like members 48 have contact engaging surfaces 48, which for a major part of their length are straight, and the opposite edges of the blade-like members 48 are formed as a continuous curved or cam surface 50. With this configuration, it will be seen that when the contact making members 42 and 43 meet during a closing operation of the switch, as is illustrated in Figure 9 of the drawings, the blade-like members 48 will mesh as a gear tooth between the contact surface 45 and the leaf-spring member 46 and produce an increasing pressure engagement between the cylindrical contact surface 45 and the blade-like members 48 as the blades [3 and I4 of the switch move into alignment. The curvature of the edges of the blade-like members 48 is such that during the initial closing operation of the contact members 42 and 43, there will be very little pressure exerted by the leaf-spring member 46, and that as the blades l3 and I4 reach their final stages of movement, the

contact pressure will be established between the edges 49 of the blade-like members 48 and the cylindrical contact surface 45 of the contact making member 42 by a transverse reaction against the leaf-spring member 46, as is clearly illustrated in Figure 10 of the drawings.

' Upon further reference to this latter figure of the drawings, it will be noted that the extreme end or contact engaging portion of the leafspring member 46 is disposed outwardly beyond the cylindrical surface 45 upon the contact member 42. As a result of this arrangement it is not until the switch blades i3 and I4 have reached a point of substantial alignment that the leafspring 48 is caused to flex and exert a contact pressure producing force upon the blade-like members 48. Therefore the curvature of the surfaces I50 upon the blade-like members 48 is so formed that the leaf-spring member 48 will be engaged throughout the closing operation without any substantial displacement of the leafspring 48 being produced until after contact members 42 and 43 have come substantially into full engagement with each other. This action eliminatu the possibility of any lateral contact pressureproducing strain being placed upon the switch blade supporting insulator stands II and I2 through theswitch blades i8 and I4.

The above constitutes a full and complete description of the present invention and its mode of,operation, and while I have, for the sake of clearness and in order to disclose the invention sothatthesamecanbereadilyunderstood, described and illustrated specific devices and arrangements, I desire to have it understood that this invention is not limited to the specific means disclosed, but may be embodied in other ways thatwill-suggest themselves to persons skilled in the art. It is believed that this invention is new anditisdesiredtoclaimitsothatallsuch changes as come within the scope of the appended claims are to be considered as part of this invention.

Having thus described the invention, what I claim and desire to secure by LettersPatent is- 1. In a high tension disconnecting switch, the

, combination of a rotatable switch blade supporting insulator, a switch blade mounted upon and extending at an angle to the axis of rotation of said supporting insulator, a cross-arm at the base of said switch blade supporting insulator extending transverse to the axis thereof, an operating means disposed in spaced relation with said cross arm and movable in a straight line tangent to the axis of said rotatable switch blade supportinginsulator, and a pair of links connected in crossed relation between the ends of said cross arm and said operating means.

2. In a high tension disconnecting switch, the combination of a rotatable switch blade supporting insulator, a switch blade mounted upon and extending at an angle to the axis of rotation of said supporting insulator, a cross arm at the base of said switch blade supporting insulator extending transverse to the axis thereof, an operating member disposed in spaced relation with said cross arm and movable in a straight line tangent to the axis of said rotatable switch blade, supporting insulator, and a pair of crossed links connecting the ends of said cross arm with spaced points upon said operating member.

3. In a high tension disconnecting switch, the combination of a rotatable switch blade supporting insulator, a switch blade mounted upon and extending at an angle to the axis of rota tion of said supporting insulator, a cross arm at the base of said switch blade supporting insulator extending transverse to the axis thereof, an operating member disposed in spaced relation with said cross arm and movable in a straight line tangent to the axis of said rotatable switch blade supporting insulator, and a pair of links connected in crossed relation between the ends of said cross arm and spaced points upon said operating member.

4. In a disconnecting switch of the character described, the combination of a pair of spaced rotatable switch blade supporting insulators, a switch blade mounted upon and extending at an angle to the axis of each of said supporting insulators, a cross arm secured upon each of said switch blade supporting insulators and extending transverse to the axis thereof, an operating member movable in a straight line adjacent said supporting insulators, and a pair of links connecting in crossed relation between the ends of said cross arms and said operating member.

5. In a disconnecting switch'of the character described, the combination oi a pair of spaced rotatable switch blade supporting insulators, a switch blade mounted upon each of said supporting insulators and extending into cooperating relation with each other, a cross arm secured upon each of said switch blade supporting insulators transverse to the axis thereof, an operating member movable in a straight line between said supporting insulators, and a pair of links connecting in crossed relation between the ends of said cross arms and Iaced points upon said operating member.

6. In a disconnecting switch of the character described, the combination of a pair of spaced rotatable switch blade supporting insulators, a switch blade mounted upon one end of each of said supporting insulators, a cross arm secured at the other end of each of said switch blade supporting insulators and extending transverse to the axis thereof, an operating member movable in a straight line adjacent said supporting insulators, and a pair of links extending in crossed relation from opposite sides of said operating member and connecting the corresponding ends of said cross arms to spaced points upon said operating member.

7. In a disconnecting switch of the character described, the combination of a pair of'spaced rotatable switch blade'supportlng insulators, a switch blade mounted upon and extending outwardly from the axis of each 01" said supporting insulators, a transversely extending cross arm secured upon each of said switch blade supporting insulators, an operating member movable in a straight line tangent to the axes of said switch blade supporting insulators, and a pair of links extending from opposite sides of said operating member and connected in crossed relation to the ends of said cross arms, whereby said switch blade supporting insulators will be rotated in opposite directions through an arc of substantially 180 as said operating member moves in a straight line therebetween.

8. In a disconnecting switch of the character described, the combination of a pair of spaced rotatable switch blade supporting insulators, a

switch blade mounted upon and extending transverse to the axis of each 01' said supporting insu-- lators, a cross arm secured upon each of said switch blade supporting insulators, an operating member movable in a straight line transverse and midway between the axes 01 said switch blade supporting insulators, and a pair of links extending in crossed relation' from said operating member to the ends of each 01' said cross arms, whereby said switch blade supporting insulators will be rotated in opposite directions as said operating member moves in a straight line there switch blade supporting insulators, switch blades mounted upon the insulated ends of said insulators adapted to move into engagement with each other when said insulators are rotated in one direction and move out of engagement with each other when the insulators are rotated in a reverse direction, a cross arm at the supported nected in crossed relation to the same spaced points upon said operating member, whereby rotation in opposite directions through an arc' of 180 will be imparted to said insulators as said operating member moves in a straight line adjacent said pairsof insulators.

10. In a disconnecting switch of the character described, the combination 'of a pair of spaced rotatable switch blade supporting insulators, switch blades mounted upon the insulated ends of said insulators adapted to move into engagement with each other when said insulators are rotated in one direction and move out of engagement with each other when the insulators are rotated in a reverse direction, a cross arm at the supported ends of each of said insulators extending transverse to the axis of the respective insulators, an operating member having a straight line movement between said pair of insulators, and a pair of links at each side of said operating member extending in crossed relation and connected to the ends of said cross arms, whereby a switch blade operating rotation will be imparted to said insulators as said operating member moves in a straight line between said pairs of insulators.

11. In a multipole disconnecting switch for high tension lines, the combination of a plurality of pairs of spaced switch blade supporting insulators, cooperating switch blades upon the insulated ends of each pair of insulators adapted to rotate into engagement with each other when in one position and project away from each other when in another position, a cross arm secured upon each of said supporting insulators extending substantially parallel with the switch blades carried thereby, an operating member movable in a straight line across said pairs of insulators and between the individual insulators of each pair, and pairs of links extending from the ends of each of said cross arms to oppositely displaced points upon said operating member,

whereby one insulator of each pair will rotate in one directionin unison with a corresponding insulator of the other pairs, and the other insulators of each pair will rotate in unison in a reverse direction as said operating member is moved in a straight line between the cooperating insulators of each pair of said insulators.

ROY WILKINS. 

